No one wants to whisper the real demon in India that causes this sort of friction in all corners of the country. The caste system.

While officially no longer recognized, it is still very much in place in the minds of Indians. This is the system where strata of society form that do not allow penetration upward of the lower ranks. A low caste person would clean the plane, but a high caste person would fly it. Persons of higher castes also bring with them a sense of nobility of their position, and can react to challenges by low caste persons with everything from condescension to argument, to fist fights.

This pilot felt his caste had been insulted to the point that corporal punishment of the engineer was necessary.

India is an incredible place. Some would argue that it was the cradle of civilization for Europe. What ever purpose the caste system served in ancient India has no place in the modern world. Just like racial or religious discrimination the caste system is a disease on diversity needed to have a great society.

The passengers had to spend a day in Bombay, with hotel expenses paid by the airline. I don't understand what is the problem, being such a paradise.

Seems to be an AI trait...couple of years (2009) ago there was a fight on a Dubai to Dehli flight between the pilot and the purser.

Another pilot got into a fight with a air hostess who objected to him seating a customs officer in the cockpit (reasons not stated but it can be assumed favors were to be passed).

In May of 2013 two pilots switched on the autopilot, left two flight attendants in the cockpit and took a nap in business class. That same month a pilot got locked out of the cockpit after a trip to the loo necessitating the co-pilot to make an emergency landing.

In 2012 another pilot was suspended after he refused to take off without his mother in the cockpit.

Another recent incident a pilot and his copilot got into a vigorous discussion prior to take off with the co-pilot leaving the aircraft and refusing to fly with that captain.

This is like the gang that can't shoot straight.

Two more pilots were suspended for having an "actress" in the cockpit.

Note that ..."Aircraft Maintenance Engineers of the airline pointed out that the pilot has a history of short temper." If correct would you want him in the left seat of any cockpit ?

Given my experience with a few Indian students at a ticket mill I wouldn't expect much better from certificated pilots. It was certainly a case of the inmates being allowed to run the asylum.

Can anyone say "Air Rage" or better yet "Kim Jong Un Syndrome" agree with me or I'll take you out.

Expect whatever when you fly on any third world airline.

Flight engineer on a 319, huh?

Typical of the arrogance of poorly trained and a nepotistic airline system.Indian airline system one of the worst in the world, being only slightly better than Indonesia, where if daddy was a general you are guaranteed a left seat job even if you have trouble walking and chewing at the same time.
Bad news for Mittal, unless the bozo calling himself an engineer has a degree in aeronautical engineering he is a mechanic. They dress them up euphemistically as engineers so that they can pay them less

Uncivilized culture...no place for that type of Neanderthal behavior on board an aircraft.

Can any of the G-8 nations match this ? A nation with GDP at #3, after USA and China !
And that my " Incredible India " !
What a shame .
:-)

Never fly Air India or Indian Air or all Indian products except their curry.

(Duplicate Squawk Submitted)

Cockpit punch up leads to flight delay

Too many issues to consider, added to a bad day, and a hot curry temper grounds flight. Airline wonders why they don't test for sanity of pilots.

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